After days of speculation since TMZ reported that a deal had actually been closed, Ronda Rousey was announced as the first woman ever to sign with UFC on Friday. UFC president Dana White confirmed the move to Jim Rome.
TMZ originally reported the signing on Oct. 8, but Rousey and her representatives denied the deal in the week since. Before moving to mixed martial arts, Rousey won the bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympics.
According to ESPN, eight women will move from Strikeforce — which is scheduled to hold its last event in January after a buyout by UFC — which had two female weight classes. Rousey is expected to fight at 135 pounds.
Rousey tweeted about her move not long after White announced her signing. A first fight for Rousey hasn’t been scheduled yet, but White said he had “four or five good” fights lined up.
Okay I admit it…I’m officially a @ufc fighter 🙂 SO excited! Can’t wait to debut! Let @danawhite know who you want my 1st opponent to be!
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) November 16, 2012
Photo via Twitter/Fighters Xchange
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
What’s up with your hair there, Bud?
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
“I feel like Clint needed to be dealt with, but that wasn’t the right way to go about it. Certainly not the right time. What I hate most was other guys were involved. I certainly look back on it and wish I had done some things different.”
—Jeff Gordon, whose definition of “done some things different” apparently includes taking a fellow driver into the wall at nearly 200 miles per hour
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Point taken.
Take it from a Red Sox fan, Toronto. Big spending doesn’t always work out so well. @nesn
— Bryan Kelly (@brkelly1017) November 16, 2012
VIDEO OF THE NIGHT
If you are a fan of The Princess Bride, this will absolutely blow your mind.